Upload
tampa-jewish-family-services
View
650
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
TJFS/TIKVAH presentation given to ABA therapists
Citation preview
Raising Children
with
Special Needs Presenter:
Lydia Abrams, LCSW
Tikvah Special Needs Program Coordinator
Tampa Jewish Family Services
www.tjfs.org
• To enhance awareness of the emotional dynamics of raising children with special needs.
• To learn new resources and ways to assist families.
Learning Objectives:
This presentation does not reflect the experiences of all
parents/primary caregivers of children with special needs.
Each family unit and every family member experiences the impacts
of raising a child with special needs in their own unique way.
Every Child is an Individual
Each Parents’ Experience is Unique
Some Families May Have Similarities but None
are the Same
“Special Needs”
•ADHD•Autism Spectrum Disorders•Behavioral Concerns•Blind/Visually Impaired•Cerebral Palsy•Deaf/Hearing Impaired•Developmental Delays•Different Physical Abilities•Down Syndrome•Genetic Conditions•Health or Medical Issues•Learning Delays•Mental Health Issues•Premature Birth•Sensory Issues•Speech or Feeding Issues
“Child with a Special Need or Disability”
Person first, then special need or disability
Some families prefer the word “Disability”; some prefer the words “Special Needs”; some prefer the individual’s diagnosis; some just
prefer the child’s name
Family plans prior to birth
of child:• An addition to the existing family
• Dreams of a happy, healthy baby
• Attempts at having a typical pregnancy and birth
• Plans for Parenting, Child Care, Education, Career
• Parental instincts to protect and bond with future baby
Or:
• Unplanned pregnancy
•Limited support/resources
Upon initial diagnosis of a child with special needs, most families have begun a journey….
They will experience various emotions…
And will hopefully learn
how to cope with the
unexpected changes in their lives.
Feelings of Grief/Loss:• Denial and/or
Shock• Anger• Bargaining• Depression/
Sadness• Acceptance/Coping• May experience process in
different orders• Some stages take shorter or longer
than others• Some never make it to acceptance
What are parents/caregivers grieving for?
“The day my child was born, was the day I lost my innocence.” - You Will Dream New Dreams
• The “happy, healthy” child they were anticipating • A “typical” sibling experience for their other children
• Plans and hopes for the future
• The child that existed before the special need was diagnosed
• The life they had prior to the child’s birth/diagnosis• Feeling that they were “robbed” of a typical parenting experience
Feelings of Anger• At themselves
– What did they do to cause the special need/disability?
– Unable to protect child or to have prevented special needs
– They are not able to cope effectively– Their partner should be reacting differently
• Toward their child/ren– For having the special need/disability– For demanding so much attention– For siblings to be more understanding/cooperative
• Toward the Medical System– For having made the diagnosis– For having missed the potential for a diagnosis– For being invasive/insensitive during diagnosis or
treatment/prolonged treatment• Toward their Treatment Team
– Expectations/Amount of treatment recommended– Labeling children– “We know your child’s needs better than you do”
• Toward their Religious Belief System– Why would their belief in a higher power/universe
allow this to happen?– What did they do to “deserve” this?
Feelings of Guilt:Unable to protect
child
Child’s suffering
“What did I do tocause this?”
“How could I have prevented this?”
Less attention toward other children
Loss of intimacy with partner
Less focus on personal needs
• Feelings associated with Depression
• Not wanting to interact with others (Having to explain condition and answer questions)
• Resentment toward others with “typical children”
• “No one else understands”
• Other people uncomfortable around child
• Financially unable to do activities
• Difficulty meeting child’s specialneeds outside of the home
Feelings of Isolation:
Decreased Confidence: • Self-confidence as a parent can be
diminished because society does not appear to value their child with special needs equally to other children
• The “right parenting decisions” that work for children with out special needs do not always work for their child with special needs
• Families of children with special needs are seen by many professionals who assign various labels
• Feelings of Vulnerability when working with professionals
Fear / Worry:Child’s ProgressChild’s future
Educational needs Social Skills
Ability to live independently when older
Safety or possible death Stable relationship with partner
Own mental health Next “crisis”
Feeling Overwhelmed:• May not have prior medical or
advocacy experiences• Learning the details of child’s special
needs and about related treatment• Managing appointments for various
specialists• Dealing with insurance coverage and financial concerns• Managing time to meet all of the family’s needs• Uncertainty for the future• Constant battles for accommodations• As children get older, they are faced
with new, unexpected challenges• May be late or miss scheduled
appointments
Feelings of Detachment:• “Easier than facing challenges”
• Over-involvement with work or other activities
• Limited involvement in child’s treatment or care
• Focus on things that can be controlled• Over-focus on child – detach from other
areas
• Despair: “There is nothing I can do to make it
better”
• Denial: “Nothing is wrong”
Feelings of Relief:• To have a diagnosis
• To learn what treatment is indicated
• To be educated on the services that are available to assist their
child
• To let go of feelings of fault or control
Other Stressors:• Lack of accommodations for child
• Child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• Attempting to meet needs of other family members
• Making choices regarding child’s treatment
• Dealing with other people’s reactions and opinions
• Decrease in support system• Own health concerns; sleep
deprivation • Lack of self-care
• Symptoms of PTSD
• Nurse• Researcher• Advocate• Case Manager
Role Changes
• Therapist• Nutritionist• Educator• Playmate
Can forget that they are the parent of their child first
Parents/primary caregivers can unexpectedly become…
…For their child
“Roller Coaster Ride”
Emotional high’s and low’s
Feeling Overwhelmed
“Just when I think things are
improving…. something else goes wrong”
Constant state of crisis
Extended Family
Members
Other Committ-
ments
Therapies
Finances
Careers
Schools
Medications
Hospitals/Clinics/Labs Community
Accomodations
Insurance Companies
Early Steps Or Related Programs
SpecializedEquipments
Case Worker
SpecializedPhysician(s)
Primary Pediatrian
Spouse
Other Children
Child/renWith
Special Needs
Parents/Primary
Caregivers
Gaining Acceptance/Coping SkillsBuild a strong support system:
• Meet and interact with other families of children with special needs (including those with different kinds of special needs)
• Locate or start a support group • Seek discussion boards on the internet • Re-establish relationship with partner • Locate a therapist to address feelings • Surround self with nurturing people that
are accepting of child and parenting choices
• Utilize a treatment team that is supportive and empowers parents/primary
caregivers to make choices that are right for their family
Find Balance:• Exercise • Find enjoyable social activities • Work outside of home (Part-time or Volunteer)• Meditate/Relaxation Exercises • Utilize a baby sitter/Respite programs• Fun activities as a family • “Alone time” with partner • “Alone time” with self
Read:• Books by other families with children with special needs• Leisure books/magazines (even as short as 15 minutes per day)
Acknowledge Positive Aspects of Child
and Life: • Recognize child as a fighter • See gains child has made • Realize own wisdom and strength • Involvement in other children’s lives Love Child for the Person He/She is:
• Identify what child has instead of what he/she does not have • Acknowledge child as an individual who may have different life goals • Learn ways to accept child for who she/he is
Other Ways to Gain Acceptance/Coping Skills:• Identify ways to increase confidence (In parenting skills; Understanding of conditions)
• Change focus on things that can be controlled
– not on those that can’t be controlled
• Focus on the present rather than on the
future
• Utilize religious/spiritual beliefs
• Practice Assertiveness Skills
• Feelings of crisis may have passed• Nurture oneself, meet own needs – regain some “sense of self”
Life is about change: All parents are faced with
different challenges related to their children
Patience:• With oneself as information is sought and when changes occur
• With child as she/he learns new therapies and copes with changes
• With medical/therapy teams as treatment options are identified
• With family members as they cope with changes
• Be kind/gentle with oneself
Forgiveness:• Of oneself
• Of partner
• Of Higher Power
• Of child/ren• Of Doctors/Other Professionals
• Anger• Resentment• Control• Wanting things to change/ be different• Thinking of how things “should have
been”• Wishing the child were different
Letting Go:
Writing as a form of Healing:• Journal Writing (Let it all out – no one else will see it)• Blogging• Scrapbooking• Photo-journaling
• Write letters (to self; child; partner; professionals; higher power) • Can choose whether or not to send the letters
Feelings of Acceptance may Come and Go
Some may never accept situation; but may learn to cope
“It is the journey that counts – not the destination.”
- You Will Dream New Dreams
If the parents’ emotional needs are met –
then they can better care for their children
Many Parents/Primary Caregivers Benefit From Professionals Who Practice:• Empathy
• Compassion• Understanding• Patience• Hope• Listening• Inclusion
Parents/Caregivers and Professionals are a team that are working toward the best
interest of the child
Empathy:• The capability to share and understand another's emotions and feelings.
• The ability to "put oneself into another's shoes”.
• A person does not need to have had the same experience as the other person in order to practice empathy.
Empathy Exercise:• Find a partner
• Both partners share an experience that you have had with a parent/caregiver in which you had to practice empathy to assist in meeting their emotional needs
• Both partners list some helpful things that could be said to the parent/caregiver
• Share with the whole group
Helpful things for professionals
• Just listen• “You are not alone.”• “How are you doing/feeling?”• “What do you want from treatment?”• “What does your instinct tell you?”• “What type of support system do you
have?”• “How are you taking care of yourself?”• “What has worked for you in the past?”• “You are capable of making the right
decisions for your family.”
• “How is (it) working for you?”• “What are your/your child’s strengths?”• “Other families have found (this)
helpful.”
to say:
Tips For Professionals:
• Ask the parents/guardians how they are doing
• Allow them to tell “their story” (About experiences surrounding diagnosis, how child was before and after diagnosis, how they are coping)
• Validate their feelings
• Express hope for their future (when appropriate)
• Praise them for their strengths
• Encourage them to utilize a supportive treatment team that allows them to feel a part of the decision-making process
• Empower them to advocate for their child and to make decisions for their child
• Help them to feel that their opinions about child and treatment matter
More Tips:• See the “whole child”; see them as an
individual
• Avoid labels when possible
• Connect them with community resources• Educate that there are options: various types of treatments, differing opinions of practitioners, assistive technology, I.E.P.
• Acknowledge the steps that child has made• Connect clients with similar issues• Be flexible with homework (they have to juggle a lot of appointments/expectations) • Remember and remark on the progress the child has made• Encourage parents to identify solutions that work in their lives/family system
•Take time from therapy to talk – It can make a world of difference For future sessions
Core Services That Can Assist Families:• Individual Counseling• Family Counseling• Resource Library• Information and Referral• Community Outreach• Networking with service providers• Professional Continuing Education• Respite Programs; Buddy
Programs• Social Programs • Resource Fairs • Play Therapy for child and siblings• Parent Support Group Services• Sibling Support Group Services
“Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?”• The Children’s Board• Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapists• Pediatricians / Developmental Pediatricians• Alternative Medical Providers• Behavior Specialists• Early Intervention and School-Based
Programs• Public, Private, and Charter School Systems• Other Special Needs Programs (i.e. UCP,
FDLRS)• Hospitals (In- and Out-patient)• Psychologists and Psychiatrists• Early Childhood Council• County-based Programs• Center for Independent Living*Networking is vital for learning
about resources in your community*
“What if the shoe doesn’t fit?”
• There is more than one way to conduct treatment on the same child
• Just as each specialist is an individual with different approaches – every family of children with special needs is unique – all forms of treatment will not work for every family
• Flexibility and understanding
• It is okay to refer out (Counseling or a different provider)
When should parents/caregivers seek counseling?
• Counseling benefits all parents/caregivers of children with special needs
• Parents/caregivers may be experiencing emotions that they are not even aware of
• Professionals should ask questions if concerned:– “How are you feeling about everything?”– “Do you have a support system?” If so,
“Who?”– “What do you do to take care of yourself?”
• Important to refer/seek if they are:– Unable to function with day to day activities– Emotional during most sessions– Express concerning thoughts
“Taking care of yourself is important to you….and your child”
- specialparentsupport.com
Parental Counseling:• Strength and Empowerment-
based• Solution-focused• Supportive and Informative• Work through grief process;
feelings• Process expectations of self, child• Education on special needs,
resources• Journal Writing• Scrap booking• Lists; Letters• Connecting with others• Coping Skills
Empowering Parents/Primary Caregivers
Parents/caregivers are capable of making decisions that work for their
familiesHigher self-confidence can lead to
positive parenting
“Walk life’s path with gentle footsteps” -Flavia
“Stuff happens, people do the best they can, and very often they learn and grow thereby.”
- Louise Rachel, Mothering
Online Resources:
• Children’s Board/Hillsborough County: http://www.childrensboard.org/calendar.asp
x • Family Network on Disabilities of Florida:
www.fndfl.org• The IEP Advocate:TheIEPadvocate.com
• Early Steps Program:
• www.cms-kids.com/earlysteps• Early Intervention Programwww.early-intervention.org
• Sib Shop: www.siblingsupport.org
• Center for Autism and Related Disabilities: http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/
More Online Resources:• Bright Feats:
www.tampabrightfeats.com• The Families and Advocates Partnership for
Education: www.fape.org
• TACA: Talk About Curing Autism: www.talkaboutcuringautism.org• Autism Society of America:
www.autism-society.org• www.specialparentsupport.com
• Social Workers: Help Starts Here www.helpstartshere.org
• About.com - Special Needs Inspiration Noteshttp://specialchildren.about.com/od/
needinspiration/ig/Notes-of-Encouragement/
Special Needs Definitions/Information:
• CHADD (Children & Adults with AD/HD):www.chadd.org
• Autism Speaks: www.autismspeaks.org
• Children’s Disabilities Information:www.childrensdisabilities.info
• Sensory Processing Disorder:www.sensory-processing-disorder.com
• Learning Disabilities Association of America:www.ldanatl.org
• www.out-of-sync-child.com
•FDLRS/Child Find:http://fdlrs.mysdhc.org/
childfind/childfind
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/needinspiration/ig/Notes-of-Encouragement/
Recommended Books• You Will Dream New Dreams: Inspiring
Personal Stories by Parents of Children with Disabilities by Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D. and Kim Schive.
• Changed by a Child: Companion Notes for Parents of a Child with a Disability by Barbara Gill
• After the Tears: Parents Talk about Raising a Child with a Disability by Robin Simons
• For the Love of Rachel by David Loewenstein
Disclaimer:The photographs used in this
presentation were obtained from Google (Images)
Many thanks to the families that have shared their stories and posted their
pictures on various websites